FA PREMIER LEAGUE
ARSENAL 3 (Partey 62, White 70, Ne+

lson 90+7)
BOURNEMOUTH 2 (Billing 9 seconds, Semesi 57)

STICK that in your pipe Pep.

The football gods are smiling down on Arsenal as they enter the business end of what must rank as one of the most incredible title challenges in the club’s history.

Mikel Arteta’s Gunners were 50-1 to win the league before the start of the season but are now within touching distance of first league trophy since the famous Invincibles of 2003-04.

Reiss Nelson’s dramatic thunder strike at the death caused total bedlam among the home fans some who were left clutching their chests and propping each other up after an emotionally exhausting Saturday three o’clock kick off.

The Gunners conceded after 9 seconds, then went 2-0 down with half an hour to go, before fighting back to win in the last minute.

Supporters are going to need their vitamin supplements and get their steps-in if they are going to survive the final 12 games, with the two Manchester clubs still in hot pursuit.
Embed from Getty Images

After the match Mikel Arteta described the outer body experience of Nelson’s magnificent winner.

He said: “It’s crazy. You lose sight of where you are. I was running. I don’t know where. I saw some security. Then you see the joy in the supporters’ eyes.

“It was an extraordinary day, a beautiful experience.

“It was probably the loudest and most emotional moment we have had together.

“We had to climb a mountain.  I was thinking just don’t lose shape, do the simple things.

“I think the team showed today a different level of willingness to win.”

He added: “The players didn’t hide. They kept trying. We broke them down.”

The fans had barely finished singing the North London Forever song when Philip Billing scored one of the fastest goals in history.

A slight deflection on a cross across the face took the ball into the so-called corridor of uncertainty, with the normally super reliable William Saliba just on the wrong side of the attacker.

It was the second fastest Premier League goal – with fastest being Shane Long’s 7.69 seconds record.

The come-back always looked on at one-nil, but the home support was stunned when Marcos Senesi raced free of Thomas Partey and headed in from a corner.

The bustling midfielder Partey – arguably Arsenal’s most important player – made amends a few minutes later by bundling in at the back post after Emile Smith Rowe headed across the face.

Vague hopes of Manchester City slipping up at home to Newcastle had been put to bed in the early kick off.

Ben White’s equaliser – clattered in from an Nelson cross – just crept in, according to the goal line technology.

Arsenal’s relentless attacking machine pressed and pressed from the first minute to the last.

There had been some mistakes but they had also been unlucky with the rebounds and deflections.

Unusually, several good chances were spurned by Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard who did not have their shooting boots on.

The were also four strong penalty shouts for hand balls in the box but they were all rejected by the VAR John Brooks.

As the match entered into injury time, the stats showed Arsenal having 81 per cent possession and having 29 shots, with eight on target.

Thankfully, the 30th shot would prove by far the pick of the bunch.

Nelson had time to control a corner and set himself before unleashing a perfect half volley that curled away from the keeper into the far corner.

Fabio Vieira was given the nod ahead of Granit Xhaka and the promising youngster looked determined to make good of his big chance.

He set the pulses racing with two Messi-like dribbles in the first half, showing great feet and balance.

Sadly, Takehiro Tomiyasu looked a little lost and still is struggling for form since his terrible back pass mistake in the defeat against City.

He was all over the place positionally in the first half, causing problems for Saka who could not find his usual give and go passing rhythms.

Saka’s brilliance this year has been built on the touch, positioning and runs of Ben White, who came on for Tomiyasu at half time.

As well as putting in some new starters, Arteta had tweaked the tried and tested formation.

Saka and Martinelli were taking up a slightly more central roles with the full backs pushing right up.

Leandro Trossard went off injured and Smith Rowe was also substituted off after being subbed on.

“It was about him not being ready to play 70 minutes in a game,” said Arteta of Arsenal’s Number 10 at the end of the game.

Bournemouth had four really good chances including three two-on-ones in the first half.

Bournemouth would have gone 2-0 up earlier but Aaron Ramsdale rushed out to make an incredible block.

If Arsenal do win the league, it will be Saka, Partey, Martinelli and Odegaard that will be remembered.

But this title challenge has been built on a battle ready defence that is epitomised by Ramsdale, surely England’s number 1.

Apart from the goal, Saliba was calmness personified alongside the rock solid Gabriel – who ran into the fans pumping his fist at the final whistle.

Bournemouth manager Gary O’Neill said: “We put up a real good fight and we suffered a late blow. Arsenal are the best team in the league.”

Who can argue with Gary?

Arsenal: Ramsdale, Partey, Gabriel, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saliba, Tomiyasu (White 45), Trossard (Smith Rowe 22, Nelson 72), Vieria (Xhaka 84), Zinchenko
Subs not used: Turner. Tierney, Kiwior, Holding, Jorginho,

Bournemouth: Neto, Stephens, Mepham, Solanke, Dango (Christie 82), Rothwell (Cook 70), Smith, Sernenyo (Anthony 82), Senesi, Billing, Zemura (Fredericks 64)
Subs not used: Travers, Randolph, Cook, Christie, Stacey, Moore, Anthony, Pollock.

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